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Re: fire code compliance



There are now "powder" systems available for situations exactly like
this.  The cost is expensive but you have to weigh the expense with the
value of you collection(s).  You also have to ask, which is worse; the
collection burning or being destroyed by water?
Nancy Kendrick
ISC Publications, Inc.
Archives and Photography Dept.
Business Operations and Licensing

"Pope, Barbara" wrote:
>
> Our archives room is a very tiny room, probably smaller than some people's
> bedrooms.  Up to now, there have been no sprinklers in the room, which is
> good, but I don't how we managed it. Our books and serials are housed in
> wooden shelves which are built into the walls. They have a metal mesh in the
> front, but no glass, and they are definitely not water proof. Our
> photographs, drawings, slides, and negatives are housed in acid free boxes I
> bought from Metal Edge and stacked in a short row of compact shelving, which
> is also definitely not water proof.
>
> Construction is being done on our building and so along with making most
> things bigger (NOT the library or archives), they are also bringing
> everything up to current code. They are going to install sprinklers in the
> archives room. Yes, I said sprinklers. I realize I cannot ask for us not to
> be fire code compliant, but what can I do to protect the collection from
> ruin by potential accidental setting off of the sprinklers or a pipe leak,
> but still be compliant with the fire code? How do you do this? Our
> collection is not heavily used and I am usually the only one to go in the
> room, so if a leak occurs during a weekend or something, it would not be
> realized until at least the following Monday. So, short of buying all new
> cabinets, what can I do? Any and all suggestions welcomed.
>
> I apologize it it sounds like I am rambling. It just seems like many of the
> decisions on this construction project were made without regard to how they
> would affect the library and archives.
>
> Barbara Pope
> St. Louis College of Pharmacy
> bpope@stlcop.edu
>
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A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List!

To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to listserv@listserv.muohio.edu
      In body of message:  SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname
                    *or*:  UNSUB ARCHIVES
To post a message, send e-mail to archives@listserv.muohio.edu

Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at
     http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html

Problems?  Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <rschmidt@lib.muohio.edu>